John Doyle

Posted by Scotches

THE SKINNY: John Doyle is a master of traditional guitar.

WEBSITE: http://www.johndoylemusic.com/
PURCHASE: Amazon

The era of electronic amplification has allowed guitarists to rise above their peers and be recognized for their virtuosity and ingenuity. Asking someone for their favorite hero on guitar produces now familiar names, some already cemented in legend despite the relative youth of the electric guitar. I do not seek to pass judgment on this development, rather I have realized the discussion of my favorite guitarist, John Doyle, might require some mention of the reality of modern guitar.

Mr. Doyle rose to claim this prominence in my mind through the slow process of familiarization I undertook in regards to Irish, English and Scots traditional music. I followed the headlining personalities passionately without pausing to investigate the makeup and quality of their supporting players. As a result I did not learn that John Doyle had been responsible for much of the guitar I had been enjoying in traditional music until I picked up one of his own solo projects and researched his discography. One element of the genre that had helped to draw me in was the guitar accompaniment to the faster jigs and reels. They had a brilliant syncopation and provided me with a strong impression of a rushing, driving force behind the instrumentals. A rhythm track of this nature went a long way towards dispelling any feeling that the music was kitschy, hokey or irrelevant. Therefore the discovery that John Doyle recorded many of these accompanying tracks enhanced my estimation of the man accordingly. That being said I must clarify that he is by no means the only master of this style of playing (Ged Foley, Mannus Lunny and Bouzouki player Aaron Jones to name just three) but for the reasons mentioned Doyle will always stand out for me.

After all, seeking out his music will lead you to more than just his solid solo efforts. His career has been crammed full with partnerships in the traditional music scene that comprise some of the genre's most dynamic acts going back more than 20 years. His status as one of the founding members of Solas would be more than enough to convince me of his influence, but in addition he has performed with renowned fiddlers (Eileen Ivers, Liz Carroll) and singer/songwriters (Kate Rusby, Cathie Ryan), and has been identified as the ideal of traditional Irish music for those in places of power.

To end on a note bereft of my well-intentioned bombast and hyperbole I will encourage readers to judge Mr. Doyle on his own merits. I hope that you will find his skillful contributions to instrumentals as stirring as any guitar solo, and his unassuming and forceful interpretations of traditional songs dealing with issues stemming from social inequality as moving and thought-provoking as the best work of more modern and mainstream musical wordsmiths.

"Tie The Bonnet/Monahan Twig/A Fair Wind/The Convenience" off of Wayward Son

FAVORITE TRACK: Little Sadie
FOR FANS OF: Solas, Irish/Scots Trad. in general, Johnny Cash.